I am currently in week 4 of my post op Achilles surgery and like anyone I hop on TH-cam and see if anyone shares stories. As someone who is currently going thru this I 100% support everything she suggested. All these items make post op life bearable and are not just recommended but required. Thank you for putting together a well presented video and sharing your story, it helped me a lot ❤
Awe thank you so much! I'm so glad to be able to share my story and share with others going through this challenging injury. So glad to hear you're in agreement with the products too :)
I would add several must haves. A basket for the knee scooter is a must. A shower chair with arms will make it much easier getting in and out of the shower. A walker is much easier to travel with due to its light weight and collapses for travel. If you must sleep in a cast or boot, a blanket lifter will keep the boot from tangling in the sheets. Warm up pants with full length zipper look cool and make dressing in a hurry much easier.
Waiting for my surgery ! I’m at one month still ruptured Achilles . I didn’t have insurance so I been in the process of getting it . Fs right lol. Thank you for all your videos and everyone’s comments sharing their stories ! ❤
This series has been really helpful, pre- and post-surgery (post tib tendon substitution and heel and Achilles adjustment). I would add a few observations: My post-op splint and bandage are huge, so much so that the standard shower boot won’t work. I would suggest getting the larger (wider opening) boot for any sort of foot surgery, although there are videos on how to completely seal a trash bag, using duct tape and some sort of silicone band (like an exercise band). Second, I also use crutches and a scooter, switching between them based on the specific task. I do find the scooter basket handy for moving items, such as food from fridge to counter, or coffee tumbler (wide base) to my perch in the living room. If one’s budget allows, I would suggest one of the scooters with larger front wheels, to make it easier to go over rugs and transitions in home as well as irregular surfaces outdoors. Finally, I have a high entry vehicle, and my injury is to the left foot. I use crutches to back up to the vehicle and a one-step kitchen stool for my good foot. It looks odd, but I attached a long bootlace to the center of the stool so I can raise and lower it while seated. Thanks again for this very helpful, and encouraging series documenting your experience.
I used the knee scooter during the two weeks between my injury and my surgery and now that my nerve block is gone I’ll try using it again post surgery, but I will add a comment about the basket. For me, it was a lifesaver. I was able to put food in it from the pantry or Drinks or clothes or whatever I needed to carry around the house. I could also use it as leverage if I was doing laundry I could put a small laundry basket on top of the basket. it was the best thing for me to be able to carry stuff around the house. It also pops off in less than a second when transporting the scooter.
I'm 4 weeks post op and agree with the suggested purchases. I found a knee scooter with a basket and no regrets. The basket comes off when you don't need it. I found I needed it and it could carry WAY more than a fanny pack. Plus that's extra weight on my scooter and not my body. WIN!! There are cheaper versions of the shower leg cap that work just as well. In a pinch so does a trash bag and some athletic tape. Knee pillows are the best, I bought 2. One for bed and one for the couch. I had to buy a shower stool as I didn't have one but the stress I went through trying to figure out how to shower 1 legged was worth the 20 bucks I spent on a shower stool. I would have added crutch pads. Your boot is your best friend the crutches are a close second but they KILLED my wrists and armpits. Cheap wraps I found on Amazon saved the day!
I’m in week 5 after my Achilles surgery. I actually get my cast off tomorrow. Thanks for your videos. All your tips are very helpful, and you inspired me to start telling my story.
Yay so glad to hear!! I have been recovering very well :) It's definitely been a journey but very doable and I've learned a lot along the way. Good luck with your surgery! LMK if you have any questions.
Hey Alexa! Thank you for all these videos, they have been very helpful. How is your performance at sports and running now that it has been 2 years since the injury? I am 5 days post op and feeling pretty down about my situation. As a very active person I am concerned about how this will effect my performance at running/hiking/surfing for the rest of my life.
You're so welcome!! The truth is I'm not active in the way I was before at the moment because I got pregnant with my son the year of my recovery (I was jogging through 2nd trimester!). Then I was recovering during postpartum and then had no free time to focus on fitness really for the first 9 months. I got pregnant again with my new baby the following month and was put on bedrest for the 20 weeks. It's been a journey and I'm eager to get back into it again. I plan to work with a PT and/or trainer before getting back into playing sports but that is my long term goal!
Hi Alexa! Your videos helped me relax prior to surgery, and I’m now 11 days post op! Which workouts were you doing at home during this time? Thank you!
As I'm three weeks out from surgery for tearing my left Achilles tendon, your channel has been so help to me . I'm wondering if you bought your own aircast boot or if they provided you with one?
Oh yay so happy to hear it! The only boot I bought for myself was the one I used for the few days before I met with my surgeon. Then I got an achilles specific boot from my surgeon that was prescribed and paid for through insurance. Is that helpful?
I think I used it for about 4 weeks! So not super long but I used it everyday to get around during that time. And then I sold it on FB marketplace afterwards. Hope that helps!
Oh I see all of the links now. Very helpful, thank you!! I saw that scooter when I was looking for them, and a lot of the reviews said that the tires weren't that great, and that they scuffed up the floors a lot. I'm assuming it was fine for you? Did you mostly use it outdoors? Any trouble with cracks in the sidewalk and rocks etc... ?
@@wlee80 Oh interesting! Yeah scuffs weren't an issue for me at all. I used both inside (on one level of my house) and outside. You definitelyyy start to recognize how cracked and broken the sidewalk is while using one. It was so helpful though and worth it for me even going slow over cracks etc. Def have to be careful outside though.
I will be in two weeks mark after achilles tendon surgery. I want to ask you during the day time how long or often I need to alleviate my leg? Should I alleviate whenever I have a pain? Is it better for fast recovery if I alleviate my leg most time? Thank you.
Congrats to hitting two weeks! I dont recall exactly how long my leg was alleviated but I think I would try for most of the time if/when I was sitting or laying down. I slept with the leg raise pillow for quite a while. And then when I was working at my desk I would keep my leg up on chair. For any specific medical questions, I definitely recommend asking your doctor - I don't know what's truly best for you and your use case. Good luck!!
The re rupture rate non surgery vs surgery is pretty identical. Considering majority of research obviously non op has a slightly higher rate but it’s usually within months 2-6 is when 80% of re ruptures happen anyway. I actually am a PT I’ll be posting up rehab/strengthening exercises that a lot of PT’s actually don’t tell athletes about because their used to dealing with the general public and not actually active “weekend warriors”
Hey so I'm not making videos to sway people to get surgery or not - that's their personal decision. I did my research and talked to professionals and ultimately made the choice to get surgery knowing it was the best decision for me and I'm very glad I did. Feels a little awkward that you come in hot in the comments and then advertise people to go to your channel to watch your PT content. What you're saying would have sounded interesting to me but not so much anymore..
It’s not just about re-rupture, but longevity and regaining complete function again. Also, some of us aren’t just “active weekend warriors,’ but actual athletes who have maintained rigorous programs. I’m with Alexa, if you want to drive traffic to your channel, this comment wasn’t it.
Hunn i just had my right leg achilles surgery nd wow im so depressed and just irritable i wish i could email you or txt or talk and ask so many questions 😢
I'm sorry to hear you're feeling so down, the injury is not great. You're welcome to ask questions here on TH-cam and I'll do my best to respond with some insights but as a reminder I am not a doctor
@@HelloImAlexa o i know im not a doctor either lol i went last monday nd got all 17 staples removed ...but i hate how skinny my leg has gotten from not being active on that side nd i also got a knee scooter better than crutches but im gunna buy 1 that has off road tires cuz the 1 i have now ive fallen off of it 3 times now those wheels are unstable nd make you tip when you run over a small rock or pebble
I am currently in week 4 of my post op Achilles surgery and like anyone I hop on TH-cam and see if anyone shares stories. As someone who is currently going thru this I 100% support everything she suggested. All these items make post op life bearable and are not just recommended but required. Thank you for putting together a well presented video and sharing your story, it helped me a lot ❤
Awe thank you so much! I'm so glad to be able to share my story and share with others going through this challenging injury. So glad to hear you're in agreement with the products too :)
Thanks for these useful tips. I'm scheduled for this surgery in a few weeks and will use your tips to get prepared. Hope you're feeling better now.
I am 1 week post op Achilles surgery. Your videos have been hugely helpful/insightful. Appreciate you!
So happy to hear! Wishing you the best with your recovery 💪
I would add several must haves. A basket for the knee scooter is a must. A shower chair with arms will make it much easier getting in and out of the shower. A walker is much easier to travel with due to its light weight and collapses for travel. If you must sleep in a cast or boot, a blanket lifter will keep the boot from tangling in the sheets. Warm up pants with full length zipper look cool and make dressing in a hurry much easier.
Waiting for my surgery ! I’m at one month still ruptured Achilles . I didn’t have insurance so I been in the process of getting it . Fs right lol. Thank you for all your videos and everyone’s comments sharing their stories ! ❤
Thank you for this video! I am having surgery tomorrow and I’m trying to prep for post surgery life. Thank you for the advice!
You'e sooo welcome!! Hope surgery went well 💪 Sending good vibes your way!
This series has been really helpful, pre- and post-surgery (post tib tendon substitution and heel and Achilles adjustment). I would add a few observations: My post-op splint and bandage are huge, so much so that the standard shower boot won’t work. I would suggest getting the larger (wider opening) boot for any sort of foot surgery, although there are videos on how to completely seal a trash bag, using duct tape and some sort of silicone band (like an exercise band). Second, I also use crutches and a scooter, switching between them based on the specific task. I do find the scooter basket handy for moving items, such as food from fridge to counter, or coffee tumbler (wide base) to my perch in the living room. If one’s budget allows, I would suggest one of the scooters with larger front wheels, to make it easier to go over rugs and transitions in home as well as irregular surfaces outdoors.
Finally, I have a high entry vehicle, and my injury is to the left foot. I use crutches to back up to the vehicle and a one-step kitchen stool for my good foot. It looks odd, but I attached a long bootlace to the center of the stool so I can raise and lower it while seated.
Thanks again for this very helpful, and encouraging series documenting your experience.
And thank you so much for sharing your experience as well!!
You are a star Alexa... so sweet to have shared all useful stuff. Thank You.
You're so welcome!
I used the knee scooter during the two weeks between my injury and my surgery and now that my nerve block is gone I’ll try using it again post surgery, but I will add a comment about the basket. For me, it was a lifesaver. I was able to put food in it from the pantry or Drinks or clothes or whatever I needed to carry around the house. I could also use it as leverage if I was doing laundry I could put a small laundry basket on top of the basket. it was the best thing for me to be able to carry stuff around the house. It also pops off in less than a second when transporting the scooter.
ohhh wow, that's so awesome! Sounds like a great addition, thanks for sharing 💪
I'm 4 weeks post op and agree with the suggested purchases. I found a knee scooter with a basket and no regrets. The basket comes off when you don't need it. I found I needed it and it could carry WAY more than a fanny pack. Plus that's extra weight on my scooter and not my body. WIN!! There are cheaper versions of the shower leg cap that work just as well. In a pinch so does a trash bag and some athletic tape. Knee pillows are the best, I bought 2. One for bed and one for the couch. I had to buy a shower stool as I didn't have one but the stress I went through trying to figure out how to shower 1 legged was worth the 20 bucks I spent on a shower stool. I would have added crutch pads. Your boot is your best friend the crutches are a close second but they KILLED my wrists and armpits. Cheap wraps I found on Amazon saved the day!
And thanks for sharing your recommendations too!!
Thanks so much for sharing! I do not have a rupture but did sprain my ankle badly and needed surgery. This items will help me a lot!
Oh so glad it's helpful for your injury as well! Wishing you a smooth recovery 💪
Very helpful. Thank you. Yes on 1-5. Just ordered the socks. I went with the basket to carry my water bottle, iPad, etc..
Yay! So glad to hear :)
I am so glad I found this video. Thank You Alexa. So helpful. My reconstruction is on 1/13/23
Oh so glad to hear!! Good luck with your surgery and recovery 💪
I’m in week 5 after my Achilles surgery. I actually get my cast off tomorrow.
Thanks for your videos. All your tips are very helpful, and you inspired me to start telling my story.
Awe yay!! that makes me so happy to hear and so glad you're sharing your story as well. Best of luck getting the cast off 💪
I am in my first week post Op and the knee scooter works wonders. I'm a lil scared of the crutches because of instability
It's really the best! Definitely still need to be careful but the knee scooter was so so helpful with getting around.
Thank you ! This is very helpful . Hope you recovered well . Will have my surgery in a few days so very useful:)
Yay so glad to hear!! I have been recovering very well :) It's definitely been a journey but very doable and I've learned a lot along the way. Good luck with your surgery! LMK if you have any questions.
Very helpful! Thank you!
Really helpful thanks
Hey Alexa! Thank you for all these videos, they have been very helpful. How is your performance at sports and running now that it has been 2 years since the injury? I am 5 days post op and feeling pretty down about my situation. As a very active person I am concerned about how this will effect my performance at running/hiking/surfing for the rest of my life.
You're so welcome!! The truth is I'm not active in the way I was before at the moment because I got pregnant with my son the year of my recovery (I was jogging through 2nd trimester!). Then I was recovering during postpartum and then had no free time to focus on fitness really for the first 9 months. I got pregnant again with my new baby the following month and was put on bedrest for the 20 weeks. It's been a journey and I'm eager to get back into it again. I plan to work with a PT and/or trainer before getting back into playing sports but that is my long term goal!
Hi Alexa! Your videos helped me relax prior to surgery, and I’m now 11 days post op! Which workouts were you doing at home during this time? Thank you!
Awe I am so glad to hear!! I share about my at home workouts in this video: th-cam.com/video/_ZiGGG4HPmI/w-d-xo.html
Hope it's helpful!
1. Plastic cast protector
2. Shower stool
3. Iwalk3
How long it took for you to return to work?
I work from home at a tech company so I only took off a week from work for surgery and recovery. Hope that helps!
Instead of the plastic cast protector, I simply covered my wound with plastic then water proof surgical tape. Prevents the wound get wet
Nice suggestion! Glad that worked out for you.
As I'm three weeks out from surgery for tearing my left Achilles tendon, your channel has been so help to me . I'm wondering if you bought your own aircast boot or if they provided you with one?
Oh yay so happy to hear it! The only boot I bought for myself was the one I used for the few days before I met with my surgeon. Then I got an achilles specific boot from my surgeon that was prescribed and paid for through insurance. Is that helpful?
@@HelloImAlexa Thank you 🙏🏾
How long did you use the knee scooter?
I think I used it for about 4 weeks! So not super long but I used it everyday to get around during that time. And then I sold it on FB marketplace afterwards. Hope that helps!
Which scooter did you buy/use? I see a lot of mixed reviews
The one I used is linked in my video description! I really enjoyed using it while I was non weight bearing
Oh I see all of the links now. Very helpful, thank you!! I saw that scooter when I was looking for them, and a lot of the reviews said that the tires weren't that great, and that they scuffed up the floors a lot. I'm assuming it was fine for you? Did you mostly use it outdoors? Any trouble with cracks in the sidewalk and rocks etc... ?
@@wlee80 Oh interesting! Yeah scuffs weren't an issue for me at all. I used both inside (on one level of my house) and outside. You definitelyyy start to recognize how cracked and broken the sidewalk is while using one. It was so helpful though and worth it for me even going slow over cracks etc. Def have to be careful outside though.
I will be in two weeks mark after achilles tendon surgery. I want to ask you during the day time how long or often I need to alleviate my leg? Should I alleviate whenever I have a pain? Is it better for fast recovery if I alleviate my leg most time? Thank you.
Congrats to hitting two weeks! I dont recall exactly how long my leg was alleviated but I think I would try for most of the time if/when I was sitting or laying down. I slept with the leg raise pillow for quite a while. And then when I was working at my desk I would keep my leg up on chair. For any specific medical questions, I definitely recommend asking your doctor - I don't know what's truly best for you and your use case. Good luck!!
The re rupture rate non surgery vs surgery is pretty identical. Considering majority of research obviously non op has a slightly higher rate but it’s usually within months 2-6 is when 80% of re ruptures happen anyway. I actually am a PT I’ll be posting up rehab/strengthening exercises that a lot of PT’s actually don’t tell athletes about because their used to dealing with the general public and not actually active “weekend warriors”
Hey so I'm not making videos to sway people to get surgery or not - that's their personal decision. I did my research and talked to professionals and ultimately made the choice to get surgery knowing it was the best decision for me and I'm very glad I did.
Feels a little awkward that you come in hot in the comments and then advertise people to go to your channel to watch your PT content. What you're saying would have sounded interesting to me but not so much anymore..
It’s not just about re-rupture, but longevity and regaining complete function again. Also, some of us aren’t just “active weekend warriors,’ but actual athletes who have maintained rigorous programs. I’m with Alexa, if you want to drive traffic to your channel, this comment wasn’t it.
Hunn i just had my right leg achilles surgery nd wow im so depressed and just irritable i wish i could email you or txt or talk and ask so many questions 😢
I'm sorry to hear you're feeling so down, the injury is not great. You're welcome to ask questions here on TH-cam and I'll do my best to respond with some insights but as a reminder I am not a doctor
@@HelloImAlexa o i know im not a doctor either lol i went last monday nd got all 17 staples removed ...but i hate how skinny my leg has gotten from not being active on that side nd i also got a knee scooter better than crutches but im gunna buy 1 that has off road tires cuz the 1 i have now ive fallen off of it 3 times now those wheels are unstable nd make you tip when you run over a small rock or pebble